Second Season Episodes - West Of Mars (episode 40)

Smith is mistaken for an infamous intergalactic killer. 

An alien spaceship lands and a voice broadcasts a warning to Zeno, notorious intergalactic killer, that capture is at hand. Smith and Will start off to greet the Enforcer, but Smith is grabbed from sight by Zeno. Zeno looks exactly like Smith and he forces the doctor to change clothes with him and to turn himself in to the Enforcer. The Enforcer takes Smith and Will as a captive.

At the Jupiter 2, Zeno masquerades as Smith. As the Enforcer's ship heads for a landing on a strange planet, Smith panics and grabs for the controls, causing the ship to crash land. Smith and Will encounter aliens who are afraid of Smith, whom they believe is Zeno. Smith plays the role to the hilt, while back at the Jupiter 2, Zeno drinks and smokes, something Smith never did. At the temple of Bacchus, a space bar, Pleiades Pete shows up and challenges Zeno (Smith) to a draw.

Smith draws and fires prematurely, accidentally hitting the sacred Golden Globe, suspended from the ceiling, causing it to fall on Pete's head. Then Smith and Will steal the Enforcer's spaceship and head back to their planet. The Enforcer lands and trails them to the ship to recapture Zeno. Smith's actions convince the Enforcer he is Zeno, and Zeno's behavior at theJupiter2 has been very characteristic of Smith. 

When lunch is ready, Zeno expresses little interest in food until his fate is decided. This convinces Don that he is not Smith, for Smith would eat at anytime. The Enforcer decides that the two must duel to see which man is which, but John will not allow it. At the mere prospect of a space pistol shoot-out, however, Smith pretends to pass out, and Zeno runs off to the Enforcer's ship. The Robinsons now know they have the real Smith. 

Ray says: One of my favorite second season episodes. Jonathan Harris is supurb in playing duel roles Zeno and Dr Smith. One of his finast performances from the whole LIS run. Bill Mumy's performance is also supurb and some of his best acting is done in this episode. 

Jonathan Harris Comment

Possibly my "Favorite Episode" of Lost In Space. I played 2 parts, Smith and Zeno, the fastest gun in space. Two distinctly different characters and I knew I had to make them different from each other. 

I decided that Zeno always had a cigarette hanging out of the side of his mouth, not as easy as you might think. I had just given up smoking and having to smoke for 8-10 hours daily posed quite a hazard. 

But, my iron will in this matter came to my rescue and I managed. Also, Zeno talked "tough" as opposed to Smith, and I so I was constantly on alert to maintain the difference in voice, stance, attitude, etc. Not easy on a 6-day shoot- changing clothes, keeping thought processes intact, and separate. Much easier on a feature film but we had 6 days and that was that. I believe it worked. 

Filming